Garment-clasp.



No. 668,40l. Patented Feb. I9, 1901. 0. BROWN.

GARMENT CLASP.

(Application flied Dec. 7, 1900. i N o M o d a S 1 weutoz -[dire flrnrns nrnr tries.

GATI-IARINE BROWN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

GARMENT CLASP.

SPEGIFIOATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 668,401, dated February 19, 1901.

Application filed December 7, 1900. Serial No. 39,081. kllo model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CATHARINE BROWN, a citizen of the United States,residing in Phila: delphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment-Clasps, of

which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,is a specification.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to garment-clasps for holding parts of a garment together, and is designed for general application Wherever a garment or a part thereof is formed with an opening or slit to enable the garment to be readily put on and taken off by the wearer.

In the present embodiment of my invention selected for illustration I have shown the same as applied to a ladys skirt to hold the placket closed; but it is to be understood that my invention is not limited in this respect.

The objects of theinvention are to provide a garment clasp of simple construction, one that will be efficient and reliable in use, and wherein the parts thereof can be easily connected together and separated, yet will not readily become separated accidentally during use; and with these general objects in view my invention consists of the parts and combinations that will be herein more fully described, and definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is aview of the top portion of a ladys skirt, showing the placket with my invention applied thereto, the parts or members thereofbeing separated. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing by dotted lines the parts of the clasp connected to hold the placket closed. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the two members of my improved clasp detached from the skirt. Fig. 4is a sectional view on the line m at, Fig. 2, showing the flanges of the clasp members slightly separated by a slight pull in the direction of the arrows in order to more clearly illustrate the engaging relation between the members.

In the drawings, S indicates the top portion .of a ladys skirt provided with the placket P, along the two edges of which the members A and B of my improved clasp may be secured. If desired, the upper edge of the skirt at the ends of the band D may be providedwith the usual hooks h and eyes 72/, by which the skirtband may be readily and securely fastened around the waist, as usual.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 3 and f, my improved clasp consists of the two members Aand B,preferably of spring metal,made substantially U shape in cross-section to form the approximately parallel flanges a b, the flange b of each of said members being preferably provided with holes I) b, by which said members may be secured to the edges of the placket or other opening, though any usual securing means may be provided for this purpose. The members A and B are made of such length with reference to the slit or opening they are intended to close that when secured to the edges of the opening or slit and engaged, as in Fig. 2, they effectually prevent any portion of the slit or opening from separating. One of said members, as A, has a flange, as a, provided with a bead or rib (2/,

preferably extending longitudinally thereof, which when the flange of the member B is engaged between the flanges a b of the member A bears with a spring-pressure against the flange of member B, holding it frictionally between the said bead or rib and the opposite flange, thereby elfectually preventing accidental disengagement ofthe members of the clasp.

By forming the engaging spring-flange of one member with a head or rib, as a, I am also enabled to provide a guiding-surface a longitudinally of the member t-o direct the engaging flange of the other member into proper engaging position and to enable it readily to separate the flanges of the members slightly in opposition to their spring action as the parts are being engaged. Thus it will be seen as the flange aof member B is passed into en gaging-position between the flanges a and]? of member A it will meet the inclined suror rib and the opposite flange, during vhich" movement the flanges of member slightly separated in opposition to th ing action thereof, which thereafterserves toifrictionally hold the members in engagement.

It will be noted that the position of parts in Fig. 4: shows the flanges of the members slightly separated, due to a slight pull of the edges of the placket or opening in opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows in said figure; but in normal engaging position of the members the flanges thereof bear upon and frictionally'hold between them the engaged flange of the other member.

While I have shown the bead or rib on a flange of member A and the flanges of member B straight or plain, it is obvious, of course, that this arrangement may be reversed, it being necessary only that a flange of one of said members shall have a bead or rib, as a, which will serve to permit the plain flange of the other member to be engaged and be frictionally held by spring-pressure between the said rib and its opposed flange. The head or rib may obviously be on either flange of either I member.

through accident or during use.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A garment-clasp comprising two members, each formed with substantially parallel ing provided with a bead or rib, between which and its opposed flange a flange of the other member is adapted to engage to hold the parts together, the said head or rib hearing against the flange of the opposite member and holding the parts frictionally against accidental disengagement.

2. A garment-clasp comprising two members, each formed with substantially parallel spring-flanges, a flange of one of said members being provided with alongitudinal head or rib between which and its opposed flange a flange of the other member is adapted to engage, the said bead or lip holding the members frictionally against accidental disengagement.

3. The combination with a garment having a slit or opening therein, of a clasp for closing said slit or opening substantially its entire length, said clasp comprising two members secured one near each edge of the slit oropening and each formed with parallel springflanges, a flange of one of said members being provided with'a longitudinal bead or rib between which and its opposed flange, a flange of the other member is adapted to engage and be frictionally held against accidental disengagement, and to permit the ready disengagement of the members whenever desired.

OATHARINE BROWN. Witnesses:

R031. A. BROWN, EDYTHE BRADSHAW. 

